47. Delaney
CHAPTER 47
Delaney
I have this uncanny feeling I’m being watched, and I can’t shake it.
It’s just your imagination because you’re alone in the woods.
Figuring a bath may help, I strip off my clothes and pad into the bathroom to the tub. Goosebumps suddenly flare over every inch of my body. I straighten, my gaze darting around, but no one is there.
Shaking it off, I pour a capful of bubble bath in the water. The hair stands up on the back of my neck.
Grabbing a towel, I wrap it around myself and cautiously creep into my bedroom. My gaze darts around my room, but everything is as I left it.
My ears strain for any noise from downstairs, but it’s silent.
After grabbing my phone, I pull up the app for the security system, grateful Randy left a printed page with detailed instructions on how to use the system.
Nothing is amiss.
Shaking my head, I grab my earbuds and yank the towel off before climbing into the tub. I randomly choose a playlist, then set my phone on the edge of the tub.
Sinking beneath the warm bubbles, I let my mind wander.
Of course, the first place it goes is Zayne fucking Morine. The guy who smashed my motherfucking heart into tiny pieces.
I close my eyes, knowing it’s useless to fight the onslaught of memories. Might as well embrace them….
Zayne looked so lost and nervous. My heart ached for him, being the new kid in school. When my gaze moved over the holes in his worn jeans, his dirty sneakers, and his well-worn tee, I knew the other kids were going to give him problems.
I underestimated what they’d do to him because I had no idea his mom was working as one of the cafeteria workers and his father was a custodian.
As soon as Tim found out, he spread the news like wildfire. Then he and my brother paid Jimmy Martin, one of the meanest kids in school, to pick on Zayne.
When I walked into the cafeteria, Zayne’s cheeks were bright red as he stared at his lap. The contents of his lunch tray had been dumped over his head and were now lying in a gross mixture on his lap. The entire room laughed and pointed at him, calling him rude names.
My blood boiled. The second I saw Tim, Aidan, and Daniel smirking, I knew they were behind it.
My sympathetic gaze swept back to Zayne. No one was doing a damn thing to help him. Well, that was about to change.
I stomped over to Jimmy and tapped his shoulder. When he turned, I got in his face and hissed, “Leave him alone, or I’ll tell everyone in the school about you cheating on Mr. Zimmerman’s test.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “You don’t have any proof.”
I felt Zayne’s eyes on me as I pulled my phone out and shoved it under Jimmy’s nose. The video I had was damning evidence.
Putting my phone in my back pocket, I sneered at him, folding my arms over my chest. “Don’t even think of going after my phone. The school has a strict anti-sexual harassment policy.”
Jimmy paled. “S-Sorry.”
“My asshole brother and his friends put you up to this, didn’t they?”
He nodded as he took a step back.
“I’ll give you double whatever they paid you if you leave Zayne alone. And I won’t show or tell anyone else about that video.” My gaze dropped. “And neither will my friend here. Right, Zayne?”
A smile broke across his face the second I said the word friend and the hope glistening in his eyes was the most beautiful thing I’d seen, even dwarfing the sunrise and sunsets. He nodded vigorously. “I won’t tell anyone as long as you do as she says.”
“O-Okay.” He backed away and ran out of the room.
“T-Thanks.” Zayne’s deep voice caused tingles to run through me. The smile was gone from his face as shame replaced it. “Thanks for pretending to be my friend.”
“Pretending?” I pulled the chair out across from him. “Who’s pretending? Unless you don’t want me to be your friend?”
His hand slid over the table, fingers interlocking with mine. Electricity coursed beneath my veins from his touch. When I met his eyes, something passed between us. “I’d love to be your friend.” He looked down at the food on his clothing before his eyes met mine. His brows furrowed. “Sorry, I’m a mess.”
A smile broke across my face. “It’s not your fault. Why don’t we get you some clothes, and then we can get you another… what’s wrong?”
“Clothes? As in, shopping?”
“No, silly. There’s some extra clothing in the donation box in the principal's office. I’m sure we can find something in your size there.” Pushing out of my chair, I walk around the table. “Let’s go.”
The warmth in his eyes made my insides feel tingly. I had no idea what was happening to me, but I liked it.
I grabbed his hand and pulled him from the cafeteria. Butterflies danced in my belly when he smiled down at me, then at our interlocked fingers.
My insides felt like an ice cream cone melting on a hot summer day. If holding Zayne’s hand made me melt into a puddle, so be it.
I open my eyes, feeling foolish for the tears steadily rolling down my cheeks. My chest aches as I lay my head back on the towel behind my head.
“Oh, Zayne. What the hell happened to us?”